Page 57 of Choosing You

“Garret, you’re not paying.”

“You just saved me from being man-handled by Ava. That’s at least worth the price of a movie ticket. Maybe even some popcorn, too.”

I agree to his offer, thinking it’s just a few dollars and not worth arguing about. Then we get to the theater and the tickets are $12 a piece! When did movies get so expensive? I tell him to skip the overpriced popcorn, but he sneaks out after we get our seats and gets a giant bucket and two sodas.

“You have to get popcorn when you go to the movies,” he says when I scold him. “It’s like presents at Christmas. It’s tradition.”

I don’t bother telling him how presents were not a Christmas tradition at my house growing up.

“I can’t believe you picked a romantic comedy,” I say. “Do I seem like someone who would like that kind of movie?”

“No. That’s why I picked it. I thought it might sweeten you up a little.” He kisses my cheek. I ignore the comment. And the kiss. “So what’s the last movie you saw?”

“I can’t remember. I was like 15, so it’s been a while.”

“Why so long? You don’t like going to the movies?”

“I do, but it’s too expensive. And I didn’t have anyone to. . .” I decide not to finish that statement. The truth is that after my mom’s drug- and alcohol-induced suicide, the parents of the few friends I had didn’t want me hanging around their kids outside of school. I guess they assumed I was just like my mom and would steer their kids down the wrong path. So social activities, like movies, ended from age 15 on. And Frank and Ryan never went to movies. They always rented them.

The movie begins, preventing any awkward conversation around my comment. An hour into it, I find that it’s actually not that bad of a movie. It’s more of a comedy with just a little romance. Garret’s hand keeps meeting mine in the popcorn bucket which explains his insistence on getting the giant tub.

“We should do this again,” Garret says when we’re back in my room. “It could be another tradition, like the pancake place. We could go every Friday night.”

“This was fun, but you need to go out like everyone else does on Friday night. Go to parties. I don’t want you missing out on stuff because of me.”

“I’m not missing out. If I wanted to go to a party, I’d go.” He pulls on me to sit next to him on the bed. “I was planning on going to that party Ava was talking about, but then I thought about what it would actually be like when I was there and decided I’d rather be doing something with you. That’s why I came down here tonight.”

“What if I’d said no?”

That cocky grin appears as he points to himself. “Come on. Who can say no to this?”

“Goodnight, Garret.” I point to the door.

“I’m kidding! Geez, you really think I’m being serious?”

Actually I did. Heisincredibly hard to say no to.

“Well, next time you want to do something, you should give me more notice. You’re just lucky I wasn’t busy tonight.” It’s such an exaggeration. I’m never busy. I have nothing to do besides homework.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asks.

“Laundry.” It’s the truth, but as soon as I say it I realize how pathetic it sounds.

“That’s too bad because I was going to invite you up to my room for pizza and a movie marathon.”

“Hmm. I do love pizza. And movies. But are you saying you’ll be there, too? Because that kind of ruins the whole thing so—”

His nudges my side. “Okay, I guess I deserve that. So what’s your answer?”

“Yes. I think it sounds fun, even if youdoinsist on being there.”

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Before meetingGarret for our Saturday movie night, I do some prep work. I take a long shower, shave my legs, straighten my hair, brush and floss my teeth, and put on makeup.

I have no idea why I’m going to all this trouble to watch movies with a “friend.” I attempt to rationalize it but come up with nothing other than the possibility that living with all these girls has given me an estrogen boost. My girly-girl side just can’t help but come out when I’m living with a floor full of them. And frequent visits to Harper’s exploding pink room certainly doesn’t help matters.

I knock on Garret’s door at 7, right on time. When he opens it, I’m greeted with a sea of sparkling blue lights hanging from the ceiling. They cast a soft glow as they’re the only lights on in the room.

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